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Join Talk 2 America Wednesday, 8 August, at 18:00 UTC for a live chat with The Perfect Storm author Sebastian Junger. His latest book, Belmont, is about a 1963 murder that mimicked the Boston Strangler scenario. Junger recently reported from Nigeria on the subject of blood oil, and received a National Magazine Award in 2000 for "The Forensics of War," published in Vanity Fair in 1999. Join us live, or send questions in advance to chat@voanews.com, and you may receive a copy of Belmont.

Security Council Discusses Expanding UN's Political Role in Iraq UN Assistance Mission for Iraq currently has 65 international employees in Iraq who handle basic political tasks Military Says US, Iraqi Forces Killed 30 Terrorists in Sadr City Statement says 12 suspects also detained during Wednesday's operations aimed at 'Special Groups' terrorist network North, South Korea Announce Upcoming Summit Plans South Korean officials say establishing a permanent peace arrangement will be a top agenda item for the summit Afghan, Pakistani Figures Gather for Peace Conference Talks encountered a major setback when Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf reportedly backed out of a plan to help inaugurate the jirga (File Photo - 08 Dec 1987)" align="left" border="0" width="80"> Russia Threatens to Withdraw From INF Treaty Russian officials, including president Vladimir Putin, have now questioned whether abiding by INF treaty is in Moscow's security interest Livestock Disease Spreads in Britain, Containment Efforts Increase Foot and mouth disease has spread to a second herd of cattle in southern Britain, as experts narrow down the possible source Urgent Assistance Needed For South Asia's Flood Victims 30 million people facing hunger, homelessness, disease in aftermath of massive floods UN Preparations Underway to Deploy Peacekeeping Force to Darfur Officials say plan is to immediately set up command and control elements to convert current African Union peacekeeping force into hybrid mission by December 31 Amnesty Chides Mexico's 'Schizophrenic' Law Enforcement Head of organization tells Mexican officials fighting organized crime must be tempered with strict observance of human rights China Celebrates One-Year Olympic Countdown Amid Criticism on Human Rights, Press Freedom IOC president joins Chinese leaders and 10,000 spectators for Wednesday night countdown to 2008 Olympic games